11:29 AM CST on Wednesday, February 22, 2006

By Rick Cousins / Galveston County Daily News

DICKINSON — Cindy Haskett, a school counselor at Dickinson’s Hughes Road Elementary School, recalled the moment. A second-grade boy was meeting with his canine reading buddy for the first time.

After finishing his first easy reader book, he announced, “‘I’m finished. I hate reading,’” Haskett said.

At that moment, Luna, a tiny, gentle toy poodle placed her paw on his arm. “‘OK,’” he said. “‘I’ll read one more.’”

And, she said, the young boy hasn’t stopped since.

Linda Miller, a retired teacher who lives in League City, brings Luna to the school’s library each week for brief sessions with three different students.

“I love children and books and dogs, and they are all here together,” Miller said. “Luna loves to come to school to see the children.”

Luna is an 8-year-old honey-colored toy poodle with large black eyes. She has been working in schools, hospitals and nursing homes for most of her life.

Vanessa Rodriguez, a Dickinson second-grader who has been part of the program, explained that Annie, her reading buddy, likes to read a lot of books.

“She lays down on her back and listens,” she said.

“Reading Bailey [the miniature poodle] a book is the most fun,” said fellow second-grader Brittany Sneller. “Sometimes she sits down and sometimes she licks me.”

“Everyone knows about the therapy dogs,” Haskett said. “These reading dogs also help improve self-esteem and they make it a good place to read.”

She said benchmark scores have increased dramatically and that previously reluctant readers who began reading with canine encouragement are now confident enough to read to parents, teachers and other adults.

“It makes me happy to come every Friday and read to Luna — it’s my best day,” said Courtney Castillo, 8.

Mary Hollis, the principal of Hughes Road, said all nine of the children who have participated in the Reading Education Assistance Dogs program have improved their reading skills. “The kids really jumped in with the program,” she said. “We’re seeing great improvement as we track their progress.”

When it is time for the next child to read to Luna, Miller walks her to the second grade classroom to pick him up. Two-dozen children instantly fill the doorway.

This kid-dog bonding has encouraged both adults and children program staff members said.

Currently the R.E.A.D./K-9 Connection program includes four handlers with one dog each ranging from tiny Luna to Annie, a massive flat-coated retriever who resembles a large black Labrador with an extended muzzle. All have been selected for their temperament and trained to work for kids.

“I wish we had 100 dogs to work with 100 kids,” said Haskett.

Fuller and her K-9 Connections group also can be found at Ross Elementary in the Clear Creek school district and at Helen Hall Library in League City.